FIVE TASTES

The magic flavours of China in your kitchen When people in ancient China spoke of the five tastes they were talking not only literally about the five tastes recognized in Chinese gastronomy sour bitter sweet pungent and salty but also metaphorically about all the ingredients and flavours at a cook s disposal They were part of the dynamic process of the cosmos like the five elements and the constant flux of yin and yang A chef was a kind of magician someone able to harness the virtues of the five tastes and combine them harmoniously in a dish You don t need to be a Chinese cook to find inspiration in the Chinese arts of flavour With a few core seasonings flavour combinations and techniques you can conjure up delicious dishes from whatever ingredients you have to hand whether seasonal treats from a farmers market specialist produce or basic vegetables from a supermarket These recipes which celebrate the Chinese philosophy that good health and pleasure are inseparable when it comes to food will show you how to celebrate the irresistible flavours of China in your own kitchen